Job Specifications
Role Title: Junior Merchandiser - Men's
Department: Merchandising
Reports To: Merchandiser
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Arrangements/Pattern: Full Time, 35 hours
Working Location: FatFace HQ, Havant
Who are we?
For over 30 years, we’ve travelled, we’ve laughed, we’ve grown. We believe life is for living and more fun with those we love. We are Made for Life.
Our mission statement:
Crafting clothes for life’s everyday adventures. Today, tomorrow and always.
Our Product formula:
Considered style. Trusted Quality. B Corp certified.
We are proud to have featured in the Sunday Times top 10 best places to work 2025 and best places to work for women 2025.
Equality and inclusion isn’t an aspiration but the standard. We promote and drive equality within our workforce to ignite an inclusive foundation for us all to build from and truly connect with our customers, colleagues, and communities alike. You play a key part in creating an environment free from prejudice, racism, sexism, harassment, bullying and any other form of marginalisation in our workplaces.
Role Summary
The Junior Merchandiser is responsible for delivering the commercial performance of their categories through effective financial planning, disciplined stock management, and strong in season trading. Working in close partnership with Buying, Design, and cross functional teams, the Junior Merchandiser ensures product ranges are delivered on time, to budget, and aligned with seasonal and brand objectives. The role owns category strategy, trading decisions, and supplier collaboration.
Operating in a supported role, the Junior Merchandiser is accountable for smaller cash value categories while developing commercial judgement and technical capability. Working closely with the Merchandiser or Senior Merchandiser, the role builds the skills required to progress within the merchandising function.
Role Responsibilities
Financial Planning & Performance Management
Produce monthly margin rolls and to financial summaries for owned categories.
Own and maintain Category Planning (Cat Plan) tools and stock walk‑throughs with guidance.
Measure actuals versus plan, escalating risks and opportunities to senior colleagues.
Manage Open to Buy (OTB) for owned categories to balance availability, margin, and cash flow.
Develop and present markdown and promotional proposals, reviewing performance post event.
Strategy & Category Support
Contribute to category strategy discussions, providing insight and analysis.
Deliver financial category planning and seasonal forecasts.
Assist in preparing business cases and supporting collaborations.
Support product strategies for seasonal peaks, small space changes, and additional channels.
Systems & Web Readiness (NEXT Product System)
Set up of line flows and loading of pre‑season budgets accurately in the NEXT product system.
Assist in delivering launch strategies such as Early Release and Mid Phase Drops.
Accountable for delivering Web Readiness and Publishing KPIs across owned categories.
Range Planning & Product Critical Path
Deliver lessons learnt analysis to support future range decisions.
Complete option planning and thumbnail development aligned to financial plans.
Prepare data and analysis for ranging and sign‑off meetings.
Lead ranging meetings from a merchandising perspective to ensure ranges are ranked and aligned to budget.
Complete estimates, distributions, and competition curve analysis.
Support collation of signoff packs, including line level attribution and buy data.
Lead range sign‑off meetings in partnership with Buying, Design, and Technical teams.
Own relationships with Partner teams and NEXT Branch Merchandising, ensuring clear communication of product decisions.
Contracts, Intake & Critical Path
Accountable for merchandising actions within the Contract Tracker to ensure delivery against agreed spend and critical path.
Monitor intake and critical path activity across categories to achieve on time launch readiness.
Trading & In Season Management
Set clear weekly trading priorities for owned categories.
Maintain and accurately update the budget tracker on a weekly basis.
Summarise trade performance and distribute insights to the wider product and leadership teams.
Own topline and category commentary within trade reports, providing clear analysis and action points.
Review in season forecasts and actuals, confirming stock and trading actions.
Measure markdown and promotion effectiveness and implement corrective actions where required.
Chair weekly pre trade meetings to set priorities for upcoming trading periods.
Supplier Management
Lead supplier meetings, production planning, and forecasting for owned categories.
Review actual performance versus plan, managing variances and corrective actions.
Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to support quality, availability, and long term growth.
Development & Team Contribution
Actively engage in development planning, training, and peer
About the Company
MADE FOR LIFE. Considered style. Trusted quality. Responsibly sourced. Proud to be a B Corp(tm).
FatFace is an active lifestyle clothing and accessories retailer proudly based in the UK. Born in 1988, FatFace has grown from selling just a few t-shirts and sweatshirts to become one of the UK's most iconic, multi-channel retail brands stocking a wide range of Womenswear, Menswear, Childrenswear, Footwear, and Accessories. With over 200 stores in the UK, Ireland and the USA, together with established e-commerce and wholesale ...
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